Acetone hydrogenation using a supported ruthenium catalyst

An acetone hydrogenation process comprising the steps of

• (a) feeding an aqueous acetone stream comprised of acetone, water, and isopropanol and from 1 to 2 moles of molecular hydrogen per mole of acetone into a reactor having a fixed catalyst bed comprised of an activated supported ruthenium catalyst comprising a carbon support and 0.5 to 5 weight percent ruthenium;
• (b) maintaining said aqueous acetone stream and molecular hydrogen in the reactor at a pressure of from 50 to 1000 psig and a temperature of from 90.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. for a time effective for accomplish at least 90% conversion of the acetone to isopropanol;
• (c) withdrawing a product stream comprised of water and isopropanol from the reactor;
• (d) continuously performing steps (a), (b), and (c) until such time that the activated supported ruthenium catalyst is transformed to a partially deactivated ruthenium catalyst exhibiting an apparent first order rate constant of greater than 50% and less than 80% of the apparent first order rate constant of the activated supported ruthenium catalyst;
• (e) passing steam through the fixed bed comprised of the partially deactivated supported ruthenium catalyst at a temperature of from 100.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. and a pressure of from 1 to 5 atmospheres for 1 to 24 hours to regenerate the activated supported ruthenium catalyst;
• and
• (f) repeating steps (a), (b), and (c) using the activated supported ruthenium catalyst obtained by regeneration.